2nd March 2023 Find Your Element
The pilot programme will reach 11-13 year olds in two schools in England to excite them about the potential of chemistry.
The Talent Foundry and Royal Society of Chemistry today launched a new pilot programme, Find Your Element.
Funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry Chemists’ Community Fund, the programme will excite young people about chemistry and the way it impacts on their lives, increase awareness of future opportunities within the chemical sciences and improve their confidence in their own chemistry abilities.
Find Your Element offers students a unique, curriculum-linked experience of interactive tasks, practical experiments and activities to increase science capital and interest in the chemical sciences.
Findings from the RSC's five-year Chemistry for All research programme highlight the impact inclusion and diversity have in the chemistry workforce – both in empowering children to aspire to fulfilling science careers and in ensuring companies benefit from diverse points of view, which is proven to result in better research and industrial outcomes.
The Royal Society of Chemistry is dedicated to championing careers and diverse role models and wants to support young people from disadvantaged or under-represented groups in understanding the significance and purpose of chemistry, to help them find pathways to careers within the chemical sciences.
The pilot programme will support two schools in areas with low science engagement. It will benefit from a partnership with two universities - Lancaster University and the University of Sheffield, and one cohort will also be supported by industry partner Victrex. To continue to build on the foundations of participation in Find Your Element, teachers will be able to use learnings from the programme to further develop and improve chemistry and CEIAG careers provision within the school.
Mentors from the Royal Society of Chemistry membership network and industry partner Victrex will support young people through the sessions, with university student ambassadors providing an academic perspective on futures within the chemical sciences. Students will increase confidence in their academic abilities and interest in chemistry and develop core transferable skills such as creativity and teamwork.
Professor Gill Reid, President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said:
“This is a really exciting pilot, which aims to unlock the promise of students who may not otherwise receive the inspiring chemistry education they deserve. We’re pleased to be supporting this project through our Chemists’ Community Fund and very much look forward to seeing the results.
“When I speak to young people about science, I am always struck by their positivity in striving to use it to make the world a better, fairer, healthier place. Careers in the chemical sciences are absolutely key to tackling some of the biggest challenges our global community faces, from dealing with health problems such as the pandemic to fighting climate change.
“And as I know from my own experience, science careers can be both fun and hugely fulfilling, so I hope this partnership is the spark to ignite the inspiration for many of the students involved.”
Jenni Anderson, Acting CEO at The Talent Foundry said:
“At The Talent Foundry we are passionate about sparking talent in young people from underserved communities. This partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry will do exactly that - connecting students to exciting experiences and opportunities in the chemical sciences.
"Highlighting a wide range of future pathways to young people ignites their aspirations, so we are thrilled that Find Your Element will support students to access insights into careers in chemistry and most importantly improve their self-belief.”